pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252. Here is the updated research article link (I am out of characters in my description so will post here for now.). The additional updates are here pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c04676. The exact chiffon they used is herewww.joann.com/silky-solids-stretch-chiffon-fabric-peachskin/16376949.html. I will retract my comparison of the last mask being “better than an N95” as the updates would rather not compare fabric masks to an N95.
I use polypropylene as a filter, cut it to size of mask and insert via the filter pocket. Purchased in a diy store (garden ground sheet), makes hundreds of filters for a few dollars...
catalinacurio - I thought that was a good idea too until I read that they likely impregnate the fabric to things you best not breathe through, eg anti fungal agent. I did the same thing, and bought a dust cover for my car, in grey polypropylene, and cut that up, but I should get it tested for it being poly prop and nothing added, before I make any masks from it
I have been following mask research. This is one of the most best produced, most documented, best researched, posts I have found. My appreciation to you for doing the research, presenting it well, and sharing it with us. Thank you very much.
@@habina113 i have been using the research since it came out and this is the first time i have seen anyone else, apart from our UK media which led me to the study, mention the study.
Gail, you brought me to tears of joy with your videos. I also am a "sewing scientist" and research the hell out of a lot of things. I went to Jo-Ann's and bought 1/4 yard of EVERY fabric that was 90/10, which took hours to find and a long time for the associate to cut, but she was very pleasant. I am in mask sewing heaven; can't figure out why i love making masks so much to give away, but I do. THANK YOU a million times for your talent and sharing of your discoveries. Love the "boning" video, as like you, I feel that helps with breathability a lot.
I'm in Canada and unable to purchase from Jo-Ann's (they don't ship internationally), the only fabric that I can find with 90/10 ratio of Polyester and Spandex is labelled as Jersey (we don't seem to have anything online that is called stretch chiffon), if you're an experienced sewer, do you think this would be the same material as what you purchased at Jo-Ann's?
@@jsam4035 I am from Vancouver Canada. I visited my local fabric store and there is no 'stretch chiffon'. But I found swim suit 90 poly - 10 spandex or lycra and stretch crepe 90 poly and 10 spandex, which I am going use.
@@jsam4035 as long as it is 90/10 i think you're good to go. sorry so late but i'm losing my mind with this covid cr*p - am in Florida and it's the Wild Wild West everything is open, stores want people to wear masks but they wear them below their nose, making me insane. I do a sprint through the store at record pace and do self checkout and spray 70% alcohol on EVERYTHING it's just exhausting isn't it? Trying to get the vaccine down here is so frustrating, i blame the Orange Man for that with no plan at the very beginning and our governor is lock-step behind him. OMG it's unbelievable. Hope this helps you!
@@lornaw6578 as long as it is 90/10 i think you're good to go. sorry so late but i'm losing my mind with this covid cr*p - am in Florida and it's the Wild Wild West everything is open, stores want people to wear masks but they wear them below their nose, making me insane. I do a sprint through the store at record pace and do self checkout and spray 70% alcohol on EVERYTHING it's just exhausting isn't it? Trying to get the vaccine down here is so frustrating, i blame the Orange Man for that with no plan at the very beginning and our governor is lock-step behind him. OMG it's unbelievable. Hope this helps you!
PLEASE add a warning about these fabrics. WASH before construction. These fabrics are imported from China and other countries. They are loaded with pesticides and other chemicals. Often they do not come off the loom straight, so they go through a stretching process with added chemicals. When washed, they revert back to their wonky position. WASH ALL FABRIC BEFORE SEWING. I owned a fabric store for many years. I know fabric!
karen l Smith this is such a HUGE issue! I'm concerned about all these kids in masks in school all day! I'm concerned for all of us!! Where can I go to learn more about what you wrote here? And how I can make sure my family isn't breathing this stuff?! Thank you.
@@BlessedBaubles, Please try to homeschool your children if you can. Like others have said most come from China and the fabrics too. I knew a German lady years ago if she bought something second hand she would boil it to kill the germs. I'm here to find out what fabric is best and how to make my own.
I purchased some stretchy chiffon at my local Joann's store this evening. I asked several employees where the stretch chiffon would be located in the store and they showed me the aisle with the thin chiffon, obviously not what I was looking for. They weren't familiar with a stretch chiffon. I just looked around the fabric section, looking for stretchy fabrics and to my surprise I found three stretchy chiffons with the 90% poly 10% spandex composition. One was a nice golden yellow and the other two were pretty floral prints. Considering I live in Pittsburgh (Steelers/Pirates/Penguins), a black and gold mask would be great guys. I purchased black knit fabric to use for my ties for the yellow chiffon and white knit to go with the floral chiffons. So, the point of this post is to tell you that if you cannot find the fabric at Joann's at first, just look around at the stretchy fabrics and look at the composition on the end of the bolts. I could only find three, but that was all I needed, and to my surprise, they were half off too. Now to get sewing!
I have made these. Sister lives in AZ desert. They are very, very breathable. Thank you!! I got the exact percentage you found with a pretty floral design. Love it!!
When I first saw this video a month ago, I thought "Are you sure?" But I read the documentation, compared the fabrics, and saw for myself. I've been making the two layer Olson with this fabric and find it much lighter to wear and much easier to breathe through. Thank you for all the time and effort it must have taken to make this video.
Greetings and thank you from Australia. I have worked in Pathology my entire working life and the detailed information provided appeals to my scientific heart.
Just fyi, I was able to order all the fabric online from Joannes- their website is very easy to use, and my store does curbside pickup- what they didn't have in stock they shipped to me. I am using the same fabric for all parts of construction- I cut the strips 1.5" (instead of 1") to make it easier to work with... I slide the nose piece in from the side (rather than cutting a slit). Before I slide it in I put in a short seam just through the channel I've made for the nose piece at 2.25" from the center seam to stop the wire from going too far, after the wire is in, I sew another stop 2.25" from the center in the other side. I use a reinforced stich on my machine to sew this. Hope this helps someone! Thanks soooo much for these great videos!
This is so informative and from reliable sources. My local discount fabric store owner, in March, was selling, with advice from local hospitals- cotton+ flannel +++ interfacing for a 3 layer mask. She's a hero. All my masks are sewn with these and with a pocket to add an additional filter. I bought the spun polymer used to make N95's to use as the additional filter. So glad to know that the masks I've seen for my family, friends and community are effective.
Thank you for making such a detailed and informative video! As a scientist I am glad to find a video that is actually well resourced and based on facts. It must have taken a long time to make this video. So thanks again for the work.
Hello! Thank you for the info, tips & all! I too, started w/the Olsen mask pattern. After nine modifications I settled on a design, very safe, comfortable & adjustable. Drawstring ties, full-size double layer, third layer is mouth piece/filter pocket & no seam down the center. I feel the seam would leave holes for germs to enter & exit! Thank u for letting me share!! Be safe & well!!
I also wanted to say thank you so much for this Gail. I am a retired paramedic currently working for a freight railroad. We are essential employees, and cannot observe social distancing and work in places with high rates of homeless & hazardous areas. I am responsible for my own equipment (long story) and am SO grateful for this information. With my experience in EMS and quilting/sewing (grin) this is a godsend for me, to keep me and my family safe. Really, really appreciate the time and effort you took to put this together.
I appreciate your intellect, research and commitment to making the best mask for yourself and those that you love. Thank you for including the research! You are the best!!
@@amandala444 Amanda, it takes a LOT of time, persistence, knowledge, and research to find scientific research results, and to then go out to many stores, purchase multiple fabrics, make the various masks from the purchased materials, then do the video with all the associated tasks. Ms Kollmar has done us a great service for which many of us are thankful because she is sharing FOR FREE the results of what she has learned. I say, Brava, Gail Kollmar, well done!
I started making masks in March when we couldnt get any but it occurred to me that the filtration would vary. It was April before I found much research on fabric filtration alone and in combination and vis-a-vis covid particle size. I came across the same charts as well as similar from the American Chemist Society. Was hoping I interpreted them correctly... and finding your video has shown me I did. Will wear the masks we made (hybrids) as well as one of 4 layers of silk, but sure wish I could get my mom to understand the fit of the mask is so important. Now if only we can get more people to wear them and protect one another. Great presentation.
Wow! Thanks for all of your research and for explaining the findings so well. For the last week, I have been overwhelmed by the huge number of available mask patterns and fabric suggestions. I am new to sewing and I purchased quilting cotton because I was under the impression that it was the best for mask making. Now I have a much better understanding of the options for protecting myself as well as others. Who knew that the labels on fabric bolts were so important 😳? I’m learning something new every day with regard to sewing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your detailed information. I am a receptionist at a family practice. The hospital that owns our clinic only provides n95, surgical masks and face shield for the clinical staff and not allowed for the clerical staff. They did finally “approve” for clerical to wear a home-made mask ( we provide ourselves) let me tell you the amount of concern our employers feel for the front office people that come into contact with every patient that enters...zero. Anyway, I have been wearing the quilters cotton 2 layers that I have sewn myself ( have not sewn in 20 years 😬) but pulled my sewing machine out of the basement dusted her off and went to town for me, my family and my coworkers. FYI the hospital received hundreds of home-made masks due to the thoughtfulness of locals, unfortunately none of them made their way to the clinics. Based on your video I’m headed out to try and find some stretch chiffon. I like the idea of the 1 layer being more comfortable since we wear our masks for 8 hours but I’m concerned with it only being 67%. I’m thinking this will be good when I’m out in public but I’m concerned it’s not enough for my work so I’m going to be making a chiffon 1 layer, a 2 layer and the 2 layer with 600 thread count just to compare the breathe ability for lengthy wearability. I will post my findings after I get them made and tried out. God bless you all and stay safe and healthy!
So unfortunate. Our hospital does the same - people in our department can use a poorly fitting paper mask (the flat kind) or a home made cloth mask while other staff are outfitted in full PPE. I am so grateful for a mask that provides more protection.
I absolutely love you for this!! Thank you from a research oriented nerd! I too have read that published study and I'm so glad that you were able to break down the data on the tables in such an easy and informative way. God Bless you!
I'm blown away by this video and can't wait to have something more comfortable and performant than what I've been using. Luckily my next recommended video is on your Breathe Easy Mask pattern. Thank you for this wonderful research!
I had the same question about using the 2 layers rather than just one layer (about breathability) and, I just tried the 2 layers and it's just fine! I have asthma and can wear the double chiffon for a long time with no probem. Making these for all my family now.
This is one of the most well-delivered, informative and important videos ive watched on YT. Many, many, many thanks. Ill be making a 600+ cotton and flannel olsen now. Its winter here.
This is such a wonderfully researched video! I'm a nurse and had not heard of the potential effectiveness of these poly blends combined with cotton. Thank you for not only citing the studies but going through them in your video. If more people on social media did thorough research like this there would be a lot more resistance to mask wearing. Please keep up the videos! I'm excited to see more :)
Gail you are a true blessing to humanity. Thank you so much for your painstaking research and making things easier for new sewers like me to help family & friends. I have been making these Olson masks from your 1st video but now I will use the fabric you recommend
The pressure differential is crazy. I’m an ICU “Coronaville” nurse. I have the “joy” of wearing an N-95 for most of my 12+ hr shifts. After an hour or so most of us have to take the mask off for a few minutes, replacing it with a regular surgical mask, outside of the isolation rooms. Why, because we need to breathe! The N-95’s are not easy to breathe through and most of us feel the CO2 levels get too high, making us feel dizzy, weak, and slow thinking. This table, however, places the N-95 into the easiest to breathe category. It also places the regular surgical mask on the difficult end. I don’t know how they made this measurement, but they sure didn’t use live people. I will be trying some of these fabrics, but question the validity of the pressure differential data.
Wow.. what an uncomfortable feeling that must be.. I'm sorry to hear that,I have a hard time with mask when out for errands. Thank you for the hard and extremely important work you... Xoxoxo
Do you think it might be the fit? the N95 masks fit much tighter to the face compared to surgical masks, so that might contribute to the difficult to breathe feeling. A typical surgical mask is more loose fitting in my opinion.
I completely understand about the N-95 mask! I wore one while out shopping one day. I started feeling stoned, as if I smoked marijuana, and by the time I got to the register, there were things in my cart I didn't remember putting in. When I got to my car, my shirt was drenched in sweat. Didn't realize it until I got to my car. I had a similar experience with one of those disposable surgical masks, except the area covered by the mask completely broke out from heat rash because the entire area was coated with sweat, with nowhere for the sweat to go or absorb.
Thank you so much!! My son is high risk. I’ve been using 2 layers of high count quilters cotton and a filter made of blue mechanics paper towel, which is hand washable (a few times). I didn’t know how much longer I could last in humid 90 degree weather with a “winter blanket” on my face. I also worry about the gaps. I’ve already ordered that fabric you suggested. I can’t wait to try making this.
PLEASE realize that the mask is not to protect him. it is on other people to prevent their droplets from reaching your son. A direct benefit of wearing a mask is to show others you are serious about physical distancing.
K Gunn thank you very much for the comment. This virus is so new that info is constantly evolving. Happily, recent studies are proving that it does, in fact, protect the wearer. Having been in healthcare for decades, and with an adult son who is cared for by numerous specialists, I was already aware of the protection it gives him. Not complete protection but, like the seatbelt in my car, it’s going to lessen the risk. While in hospital with him, I often take him for walks and see children w/ cancer, traveling off floor in their little wagons, wearing masks. They are worn to protect them from us, not us from their cancer. We do it all - wear clean masks, wash hands often, go for occasional hikes in the woods w/ mask in hand (just in case we aren’t alone), avoid crowds, etc. BTW, hikers are often friendly people. I smile to myself as I notice all of us trying to stand upwind from each other, to keep away from anything in their air. He misses his friends because special olympics is another victim of Covid19, so we “train” to keep active. Hmm, we are blessed to live in Pennsylvania Amish country. . . aside from washing hands and wearing masks, it’s our life already.
Thank you very much for the detailed and documented scientific research behind this. I've been making the two-layer Olson style mask in high-quality quilters cotton and have found that as it gets warmer out the comfort is dropping rapidly. I'm going to look into getting some of the stretch chiffon and using your updated mask design. Thank you again!
I am going to be open minded about the chiffon, but it surprises me that a synthetic fabric would be cooler than cotton. When I was "always hot" during that time of life, I found I could not wear synthetic fabrics of any type as they were warm. I will have to look into this for masks.
Awesome video Gail. Very thorough & informative. Now comes the hard part...learning to sew. Glad you thought of that as well & have a created a sewing video to help. You're an angel.
Thank you so much for the detailed description of the fabric for mask. I have made many masks for myself as I am a nurse working in a home care setting. The nose wire type was the first that I attempted. The wires always seemed to poke out of the fabriac no matter what type of wire I used. Nor did the pipe cleaners work. A mask that pokes the bridge of your nose is not desired by anyone. And to launder the wire would result in rusting in no time. I used a mask pattern with a pocket for a filter, bought the recommended furnace filters for use in the mask. These were much to thick to actually wear for any amount of time. Most of the masks do not feel comfortable around the ears, which once again will result in not wanting to wear it. The most current fabric type that I read that was suggested to use by hospital doctors is a spandex blend, the type used for "active wear". I will try this fabric with elastic that goes around your neck and the top of the ears. Thanks again for all of your research.
Just a suggestion that most mask styles and patterns are easily able to be modified so that the nose bridge wire is removable for the wash. Tiny bit of time for the extra sewing and removing it and putting it back in each time, but it resolves the issue you mention above.
I use pipecleaners and use a zigzag stitch right over the top seam. These have been washed in a washing machine and hung to dry and then ironed over and over with no problem, neither rusting nor breaking nor poking through the fabric (quilters cotton and natural silk)
Thank you for the research and explanation. I have made the Olson mask and the 3D masks. I get a better fit with the 3D mask. Going to pick up the poly span fabric today to make more masks.
You, my lady, are brilliant. Thank you for being such a thorough and generous person for sharing this. I will do my best to remember to pass this video along on social media!
Gail, thank you for your research! The information about mask fit is extremely helpful. One fabric they did not review, maybe because it is not commonly available except online, is LINEN. I happen to have some lightweight linen because I was making a medieval shift for cosplay. I used some as the face layer to an accordion-pleat style mask and found it to be the most comfortable and breathable fabric I've tried. I can't quantify with numbers how well it works, but let me tell you my story. I have some trouble breathing normally, so I often feel I must remove my mask even in public to get extra oxygen sometimes. In the store today I tried that and found that I did NOT breathe any easier without a linen-lined mask than with one. However I DID find that I suddenly could smell cologne or something in the air, that previously my mask had filtered out. So if my mask is well-fitted, breathable and comfortable, and still filtering out even the smell of perfume, then it must be doing a very decent job even though it is lightweight. I just thought the "perfume test" might be a valuable addition to some people's toolbox to judge the effectiveness of their own masks.
Marialla would you mind sharing the details regarding your linen fabric? What kind and where you bought it? I just want to make sure I get the right thing. Thanks!
@@JeffB8sFan Two excellent suppliers of linen are Dharma Trading: www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/100-bleached-linen-fabric.html?lnav=fabric.html And Burnley and Trowbridge: www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/6176.aspx You want to look for a fine weight linen 3-3.8 oz, for a sheer and breathable layer. At least, that's what I used.
@@Marialla. Other research has found linen to be much less effective than cotton - it might just be a question of thread count, but I doubt you can find even 150 TPI in linen.
It is not just the fine weave - the physical-chemical nature of cotton is what controls the droplets. Linen is a totally different plant and does not behave he sme way physically/chemically.
@@habibanola Yes, you can find 150 TPI linen. It's hard to find and very expensive. It usually used for ecclesiastical goods although you can occasionally find linen sheets in that range.
This is so informative, interesting and well-done! I have reservations about the polyester, though. Not surprising it helps trap molecules as it's a type of plastic. I wouldn't want to be breathing in that stuff. I'd opt for the cotton/flannel or cotton/silk instead. However, if poly's all you have, I suppose it's better to use that than cotton alone.
Hello, something I have been using is hair elastics. There are some long ones I have found as well as cutting ringlets from a new pair of unused pantyhose or knee high pantyhose. Just cut 2 inch wide pieces. Cut them in half, and give them a good little stretch. I tie the ends together and hide them within the inside of the fabric.
I have been experimenting with the same study when it came out and go for 600 thread cotton sandwiched between 2 layers of the polyester/Spandex material.
I have been using old good linen napkins for the lining with used fabric on the outer side . Gives me the sense of ancestors gifting us from 100 years ago during this novel event. Thread count makes most sense, but natural fiber, too.
Good question, but I think not. In fact, it is my hypothesis that the stitching actually increases the fiber density of many fabrics when not under tension. After all, we are really adding thread to the void which ultimately adds to the weave of the fabric. When the fabric is stretched tightly perpendicular to the seam, then I would agree that holes in the fabric do open up.
Great job of breaking down this study! I only wish the study had included using non-woven interfacing. I remember in the early days of this pandemic a study that showed it significantly increased the effectiveness of homemade masks so I have used it in all styles I have made - I'm sure it doesn't hurt but it does effect breath-ability some. The double chiffon looks like the way to go but as you pointed out fit is key. The other thing that caught my attention was where the holes were to imitate gaps - it seems they measured leakage on exhale - or what the wearer is putting out for others to breath in. I would love to know the reverse - even with some side gaps I would guess that most of an inhale would come through the cloth covering your mouth and nose, not from the edges near your ears and chin. I don't want to put others at risk so proper fit is important to all of us - I was thinking more about kids going back to school - we will do the best we can but they're going to have gaps, so I say give you loved ones the best filtration on the inhale to protect them from others who have gaps. Thank you so much for your time with putting this up for all of us!!!
Can't wait for the modified Olson pattern. I have made and donated over 100 cotton masks but with summer weather warming up many are looking for something lighter. The added filtration level will be a huge bonus.
This is a very useful video... especially for those of us who want as little filtration as possible... in order to breathe fresh air.... at times when we just can't get away with not wearing a mask at all... Thank you.
You "hit the nail on the head" with this video!! Everything I've been searching for you've explained so well. Thank you for your organizational research based approach. God Bless:)
Thank you so much! My family is helping me make masks for friends and coworkers and the rest of the fam and all your videos are so helpful!!! I’ve even made toy masks for my daughter and some of my mom’s students. (She teaches first grade) I’m excited about this one because the weather is getting hotter and having a more comfortable safe mask will encourage more people to wear them I think. Thanks again.
thanks for the great video!!!,,,,,,,for those who dont like to sew (moi),,,,you can do the same by cutting out a square the size of a bandana, laying it on the diagonal, and fold the corners down, and up, across the diagonal, several times to create a wide band, and use the pointed ends to simply tie tightly in the back, eliminating all gaps, also covering up the ears as well, the ears also take in stuff,,,,,,,,,,,,,takes 1 minute to make, and you can fold in the upper edges to fit tightly under your eyes,,,,,,,very tight fit,,,,,,thanks for all the great info,,,,,,off to the fabric store!!!!
Thank you for your research and presentation! I am wondering why you have not mentioned a layer of non woven interfacing. That was the important layer talked about in the Spring when we were first making masks. The best possible fabric combo was 2 layers of cotton with one layer of non woven interfacing in between. Any research on that? Thank you so much.
I haven’t seen much data on the interfacing except that the WHO recommends Not coating a mask. I would put fusible interfacing in that category. Non fusible interfacing may make an interesting filter choice in a pocket mask, but again, I haven’t seen much data. The WHO does recommend polypropylene as a center layer, but I am not sure what types of polypropylene would be best and what types would be safe for breathing through. I wish I could help more.
When you say nonwoven interfacing, are you referring to polypropylene or some other material? I think the problem with sandwiching the woven interfacing for electrostatic purposes is that when washed, it loses its ability. But it can be re-charged with friction. So I'm thinking about making a polypropylene filter if that is feasible, for the mask interior.. If it touched the skin, it would have more power because skin (pos) and poly (neg) would create most static electricity. If that is indeed the goal? I'm no scientist :) just noodling this out
I am so grateful to you for doing all this research and then explaining it so while I didn't understand it all, I got the points you were making. If I had tried to read this myself, I'm sure my head would have exploded! Thank you so very much!
I'm confused. I thought the study said the two layer cotton quilt with the interface was 96%. Can you tell me what the thread count and gsm of this cotton was? (vs. the quilt cotton with 80 thread count). Since quilt cotton is generally 60 to 68 thread count, what accounts for the outstanding performance of the quilt? Was it the construction, the three layers or some other factor? Because I'd like to duplicate that model at home! I'm also curious why you didn't make a mask that way to compare since the rating was so high for that version. Did you do that for comfort reasons?
Thank you for all your time effort and research. I have watched many videos about making masks, and to be honest have become very confused. I’m from Australia and wearing masks has never been an issue here, until the last week when we have seen a spike in cases ( only in the state of Victoria). The suggestion is that those in the “ lockdown areas “ should consider wearing masks. I’m not in this area but one can never be too careful. All of that being said I wanted to make sure to make an efficient mask and not waste money and time. So now I’m going to see if I can find your suggested materials and get sewing. Sorry for the long comment, thank you once again.
This is a GREAT contribution. You saw things in this study I missed when I read it, right after it came out. REQUEST: can you post the Grams Per Square Meter of the stretch chiffon you like? It's NOT on the Joanns web site, even if it IS on the end of the bolt.
Well, I went Joanns today, and they had ONE Stretch Chiffon, and it was lighter and more sheer than what you've shown. And NONE of the apparel fabrics had the GSM or thread count on the end of the bolt.
I also purchased a silky print fabric with the same 90% 10% combination. I was even able to find a more masculine print the men in my live will wear. Bit of a feat for chiffon. Look for the silky print heading on the end of the bolt away joanns
I use cotton fabrics, including 800 thread count, iron on non woven interfacing (different weights) and always include a filter pocket, metal strip over the nose can either be the purpose made strips for masks or the metal strips used for office file documents, I encase those in a interfacing pocket so they don't move around or detach.
Omg. What is your background. I’m an engineer and am frustrated at the masks advertised with huge gaps. Finally someone put the research together. Thank you. I was leaning toward stretch jersey with filti filer material because the stretch gave me the fit and I know the effectiveness of filti. Problem is filti has a limited lifetime. I am rethinking everything.
Filti also has what I (an engineer) consider to be to much resistance to breath. I'm not going to be using it. I've also lost my enthusiasm for shop towels, due to durability concerns. I've used a lot of jersey in two layers, based on earlier research suggesting that it was a good choice. And users like them. The thickness of the jersey, and the fuzziness of the cotton fibers both help Mechanically filter out a broad range of particle sizes, but it does NOT have the electrostatic properties that make the Polyester/Spandex Stretch Chiffon effective at filtering out the Tee-Ninesy nano spit. The problem with ANY stretch material is the more you stretch it, the bigger the "pores" get, which diminishes your mechanical filtering effectiveness. So you don't want to stretch it TOO much.
Fantastic research, thanks! I was not able to find the same type of chiffon in Denmark but I found this very interesting material for those who cannot order from Jo-Ann's. It's called ALBStoffe, 100% made in Germany, feels like jersey, very compact and not see-through. It's 95% trevira-bioactive and 5% elastan (a.k.a. spandex), advertised as Permanent Antimikrobiell and though they have a disclaimer that its purpose is not to stop virus, they even have a panel with masks printed and ready to cut. I counted around 80 tpi, it's machine hot washable and can go in the dryer. I look forward to using your instructions on this fabric!
Want to share this information, with our local sewers, do you know where I can get the pdf on the research you have done. This is wonderful. Thank you for taking your time doing this.
Gail thank you so much for showing us such thorough and detailed research - most importantly, for making it understandable! I really learned a lot and feel empowered with the knowledge. This has inspired me to make my own masks :) Take care~
Very good and informative video, thank you. Saying that I am confused in fabric order when making them. In vider @ 12:33 minutes you explain outer layer is good quality cotton and inner layer is chiffon. At 20:56 minutes when rating 5th masks quality you said 2 outer layers are chiffon and one inner layer is cotton (reversed orde). Would appreciate clarification.
Thanks Gail... your video appeared in my recommendations, which I’m very thankfully for! A truly excellent video 😀 My only concern with all masks is the actual Olsen pattern, because of the central seams increasing permeability with the holes. Thank you again for your research!
great video Gail. Since the info that you shared in your how to video states that using different fabrics in a 2 layer mask is optimal, what do you think the protection would be with 600-800 thread count sheeting and 1 layer of stretch chiffon? Thanks
I would guess that your combo would be better than just one layer of stretch chiffon and better than one layer of 600TPI cotton, but not additive (NOT 67 + 79). Notice the difference between one and two layers of chiffon (67 - 83) and 1 and 2 layers of 600 TPI (79 - 82).
I know that you probably have been thanked 100 times but I wanted to say it again thank you for doing the research that you did it’s important to people who actually care like me so I personally wanted to say thank you because I’m gonna watch your video now and see what you have to say
Against early "recommendations" early on, I bought a several inexpensive pairs of 90/10 stretchy Poly/Spandex leggings in the biggest sizes I could find to cut & use for masks (when everything was closed & Joann's had a 3.5 hour line to get in). I'm FINALLY going to Joann's today, excited to compare. I bought the 90/10 leggings because they have nice, stretchy drape, a soft "sueded" or "sand-washed" feel, and are very opaque--more than other most other materials. I think these may have been a better intuitive purchase than I realized. They also hold a lot of static.
See my website for up close pics of the stretch chiffon fabric with a fiber content of 90/10. It is a weave (not knit) and is ever so slightly stretchy...really just has “give”. gailkollmar101.wordpress.com/olson-mask-support/. Have fun sewing!
@@gailkollmar8174 Is a knit bad or not as good as a weave? I bought a bunch of knit fabrics with the 90/10 content you recommended but they were not the stretch chiffon material you recommended. I only found your videos AFTER I went shopping. Wondering if I should make another trip to the store or if what I bought will be ok based on your research.
The researchers did not study interfacing in this study (so I can’t quantify a difference), but the WHO recommends that you do not coat your fabric. apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1279750/retrieve. Page 10.
@@gailkollmar8174 Non-woven interfacing qualifies as the middle non-woven hydrophobic layer. It isn't a coating necessarily, especially if it's a non-fusible interfacing.
@@gailkollmar8174 Please check out a channels, The Fabric Patch...she has the scientific research on non woven material and has a good understanding as she was formerly a PA (Physicians assistant), also I use a pattern altered from the design on Made Institute. No seams in breathing area and good fit. Remember not to use pins making the mask. A pin hole is a huge opening compared to a microscopic particle. Hope this helps.
Very well done, interesting research. But was surprised that different filter materials wasn't also addressed. Differing filtering materials will make a huge difference in the effectiveness of a well made and fitted mask. Filti brand filtering material (which I'm currently using in my masks) has a 95% filtration rate, eliminating my concern over the filtering quality of the material I am using. [It proved its effectiveness when it filtered all smoke smell from the CA fires here in OR, and 2 places in WA.)
I’m sure this is mentioned in comments somewhere already, but likely very important not to use fabric softener on chiffon masks to preserve static charge?
As cold weather approaches and this thing isn't going anywhere, I'd like to see fine quality wool flannel--like business suit material--tested. 1) HOLDS ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE. 2) DOES NOT ABSORB WATER. It would be miserable material to wear in summer, but merino & cashmere would probably be lovely to wear in winter.
Wal-Mart does not sell "standard quilters cotton." As a quilter, it's irritating to see their fabrics called that. Quilt shop quality quilters cotton thread counts are higher than that. Like most other products, Wal-Mart's "quilters cotton" is a substandard product. Joanne's is not much better. When shopping for "quilters cotton," this is why it's important to go to an actual quilt shop, in person or online, and not a big box store.
@@leo95630 speaking of batiks, they are so tightly woven and of course come in awesome color arrays. Does anyone think there is an issue with the dyes used? I know when I wear my batik masks (fabric washed and machine dried upon purchase, and then mask washed and dried again after assembly), I seem to smell a certain something. I do not detect this smell while wearing the other good quality/TPI "quilters'" cotton masks I've made.
For those having trouble accessing this top-pick Joann Fabric from the video, I have posted some up close pics and descriptions on my blog page (gailkollmar101.wordpress.com/olson-mask-support/). I hope this helps you find a suitable fabric that is both safe and light. ~Gail
Yes please, I am also looking out for the 2 layer chiffon and 1 cotton 600 thread mask video. Have I missed it along the way? Thank you for your very informative video.
The cotton has to go on the outside and the chiffon on the inside of the mask for it to work properly. The cotton stops the large droplets (mechanical filtration) and the chiffon stops the small particles by electrostatic attraction (electrostatic filtration). The illustration in the paper shows the cotton goes outside so the air goes through the cotton first before it goes through the chiffon. Great explanation, though!
@@sandyray6710 the research for the hybrid fabric was 1 layer of 600 tpi on the inside and 2 layers of stretch chiffon on the outside. The WHO recommends cotton on the inside, a poly blend on the outside and a polypropylene or cotton blend in between.
@@gailkollmar8174 Here's the relevant section from the WHO's Advice on the Use of Masks in the Context of COVID-19 Interim guidance: "Combination of material used: The ideal combination of material for non-medical masks should include three layers as follows: 1) an innermost layer of a hydrophilic material (e.g. cotton or cotton blends); 2), an outermost layer made of hydrophobic material (e.g., polypropylene, polyester, or their blends) which may limit external contamination from penetration through to the wearer’s nose and mouth; 3) a middle hydrophobic layer of synthetic non-woven material such as polyproplylene [they are referring to spunbound polypropylene interfacing that can be bought from a fabric store or meltblown polypropylene such as found in surgical masks] or a cotton layer which may enhance filtration or retain droplets" www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak
The WHO mentions a polypropylene filter in their guidelines that I linked below the video, but I don't have any stats on polypropylene filter performance, nor do I know where to get that sort of thing at this point. Based on the research in this video two layers of cotton without the filters would be 38% effective if its 80 TPI cotton and 82% effective if its 600 TPI cotton. Fabric and fit are important. I'm sorry I can't help with polypropylene at this time.
@@gailkollmar8174 polypropylene is not recommended to be washed in very hot water it is made for shopping bags like the fabric grocery shopping bags. And if you look on the manufacturer's website to make the product they all say to spot clean. all you have to do Gail is go onto the internet and search polypropylene and you'll find companies who make that fabric. So it's quite irritating that the incompetent World Health organization would recommend a fabric that you can't disinfect. Either that or they just want you to use it and throw it away after one use
@@sken4385 yes I have found research over a month ago regarding the Filti fabric. I appreciate Gail's video but she's about a month-and-a-half behind. Smart filter also put out a research study on their website as well as the company that is used to rate the efficacy of the n95 masks. In the latter study they do mention the Filti fabric
Gail, just curious as to why you picked using one layer of chiffon rather than two for your final choice. Was it because of the breathability factor? I am trying to find a mask that works best for my elderly parents to use that is both as safe as possible yet breathable. Any thoughts on this? Your videos are terrific. I appreciate all the information and time you took to share all you learned. Thank you!
I think she explained it in the video. What I understood is that it's the best combination of both protection and comfort. So if you were only to pick one that would it. Since it provides sufficient protection but it's not so uncomfortable you're gasping for air.
@@raquelg.4850 i find adding the 600 thread in between does not lessen the comfort to be honest, my issues has been finding the best mask and to be honest a design from a French website been the best fit etc but its a duck mask and the shape though very good as well as the seam positions, it does look odd
@@toshtosh9482 Can you share where you found the duck bill pattern? Did you find that it had less gapping? I also want to make 2 layer chiffon (90-10) and a layer of 600 TPI cotton masks. TY
@@pamelawisniewski7536 Pulled one out from my bout with leukemia: Base around face length is 10 inches the end that is away from face is 3.5 inches and the legs to form the trapezoid is 4 inches. I cut 2 pieces of each type of fabric. Stitched them all together with right sides together leaving a turning area. Turned right side out and added ties (before elastic was available) and wore them Daughter loves it. Have switched to Keiko Olson 3d mask. Both masks are wonderful and keep the fabric out of your mouth.
Really appreciate the science based knowledge. I’m using it in making masks with better fit using more effective fabrics. I have had better luck with the orange dot shaped mask in terms of getting a close fit on sides and chin. Goggles work to hold the top in place under my eyes.
Thanks for this video, this is probably the most comprehensive analysis I've seen regarding homemade masks. I did have a question though. For mask #5 you said it was double chiffon and one cotton layer, but with how I'm understanding the chart, it's recording 1 piece of chiffon and 1 piece of cotton (assuming the 600 TPI variant). Is there a reason you added the extra layer of chiffon, or am I misunderstanding the chart?
Very deep in the article, in a table heading, they explained that hybrid fabric was two layers of chiffon and one layer of 600 thread count cotton. I linked the original article and the updated article below the video both in the description and the update is in the comments from me because I had run out of description space. Happy reading!
Thank you for this well organized and thorough presentation. I too, have followed the fabric discussion. I recently purchased what was advertised as Merv 13 fabric from Amazon. I would be interested to know what this fabric is really constructed of and how well it filters.
Any thoughts about using 93/7 vs 90/10 stretch chiffon from Joann fabric? They have so many fiber combinations that look and feel the same that it's difficult to know what to buy. After searching, I found 90/10, and made a few 2 layer masks. They are very comfortable and teenager approved.
@@toshtosh9482 im here in UK any idea where i can get it? I work as a carer and making mask for colleagues and residents. Hopefully you can help me, Thanks in advance
Love your videos. I am so excited about using the stretch chiffon. Went to JoAnn Fabrics and could only find 85% poly 15% spandex. Figured it was close enough. Did a trial with a single layer of the chiffon and a layer of tightly woven cotton and found it was a little hard to breathe in. Used bias tape to bind all the edges, which works great and can be used as ties, as well. Haven't tried a single layer of the stretch fabric but am wondering if you also have bound the edges to keep the fabric from stretching too much. Excited to see your new video showing different construction methods for this type of fabric. Filtration AND breathability would be a huge improvement.
Make sure you've got the WOVEN stretch chiffon. I saw a lot of KNIT poly/spandex at my Joann's, but NOT the material Gail is suggesting, although it looks like it's till available online. The KNIT stuff was not tested in the report Gail is referencing. It MIGHT be just as good, or it might have larger "pore" and thus be less effective.
Great video .. awesome explanation of all the new info ... Question ... :) Would you be willing to share the modified Olson pattern you made ? :) Thank you ... Your videos have helped me so much ... ( Last week I finished 70 masks that I donated to a Hospice ... all thanks to you and your previous videos on how to make the Olson mask faster ) ...
I am working on that mask video as we speak and hope to have that released within the week. I love that mask and want to share it ASAP. My 87 year old “Grand” wore that style to the cardiologist this week on a 90 degree humid day and it made it so much easier for her to breathe for which she was relieved and grateful. Great job on your sewing efforts....I am sure many people will be blessed!
Gail, thank you for posting this video and pattern, but your final recommendation for a single layer chiffon mask would rate only 67%, not 97% according to Table 1 in the research study. The 97% rating was for the mask labeled "hybrid 1." In the abstract at the beginning of the article, the researchers explained that a hybrid has multiple layers. Here is the exact quote: "Although the filtration efficiencies for various fabrics when a single layer was used ranged from 5 to 80% and 5 to 95% for particle sizes of 300 nm, respectively, the efficiencies improved when multiple layers were used and when using a specific combination of different fabrics. Filtration efficiencies of the hybrids (such as cotton-silk, cotton-chiffon, cotton-flannel) was >80% (for particles 90% (for particles >300 nm). We speculate that the enhanced performance of the hybrids is likely due to the combined effect of mechanical and electrostatic-based filtration."
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252. Here is the updated research article link (I am out of characters in my description so will post here for now.). The additional updates are here pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c04676. The exact chiffon they used is herewww.joann.com/silky-solids-stretch-chiffon-fabric-peachskin/16376949.html. I will retract my comparison of the last mask being “better than an N95” as the updates would rather not compare fabric masks to an N95.
Hi may I know if u sell these masks??
I use polypropylene as a filter, cut it to size of mask and insert via the filter pocket. Purchased in a diy store (garden ground sheet), makes hundreds of filters for a few dollars...
Here’s the link to the latest paper on ACS Nano I forgot to. Include: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c05025
@@catalinacurio I thought that garden polypropylene for gardens was treated with and anti-weed substance-not good to breathe.
catalinacurio - I thought that was a good idea too until I read that they likely impregnate the fabric to things you best not breathe through, eg anti fungal agent. I did the same thing, and bought a dust cover for my car, in grey polypropylene, and cut that up, but I should get it tested for it being poly prop and nothing added, before I make any masks from it
I have been following mask research. This is one of the most best produced, most documented, best researched, posts I have found. My appreciation to you for doing the research, presenting it well, and sharing it with us.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for your kinds words of encouragement!!
I agree completely. This video was laid out very well and understandable to I believe many folk.
Woody Smith I couldn’t have said it better. Thank you for this extremely useful information. Now to see if
I can find this fabric here in Canada!r
I agree with everything you said. Best research and presentation I have seen so far
@@habina113 i have been using the research since it came out and this is the first time i have seen anyone else, apart from our UK media which led me to the study, mention the study.
Gail, you brought me to tears of joy with your videos. I also am a "sewing scientist" and research the hell out of a lot of things. I went to Jo-Ann's and bought 1/4 yard of EVERY fabric that was 90/10, which took hours to find and a long time for the associate to cut, but she was very pleasant. I am in mask sewing heaven; can't figure out why i love making masks so much to give away, but I do. THANK YOU a million times for your talent and sharing of your discoveries. Love the "boning" video, as like you, I feel that helps with breathability a lot.
I'm in Canada and unable to purchase from Jo-Ann's (they don't ship internationally), the only fabric that I can find with 90/10 ratio of Polyester and Spandex is labelled as Jersey (we don't seem to have anything online that is called stretch chiffon), if you're an experienced sewer, do you think this would be the same material as what you purchased at Jo-Ann's?
@@jsam4035 I am from Vancouver Canada. I visited my local fabric store and there is no 'stretch chiffon'. But I found swim suit 90 poly - 10 spandex or lycra and stretch crepe 90 poly and 10 spandex, which I am going use.
@@jsam4035 as long as it is 90/10 i think you're good to go. sorry so late but i'm losing my mind with this covid cr*p - am in Florida and it's the Wild Wild West everything is open, stores want people to wear masks but they wear them below their nose, making me insane. I do a sprint through the store at record pace and do self checkout and spray 70% alcohol on EVERYTHING it's just exhausting isn't it? Trying to get the vaccine down here is so frustrating, i blame the Orange Man for that with no plan at the very beginning and our governor is lock-step behind him. OMG it's unbelievable. Hope this helps you!
@@lornaw6578 as long as it is 90/10 i think you're good to go. sorry so late but i'm losing my mind with this covid cr*p - am in Florida and it's the Wild Wild West everything is open, stores want people to wear masks but they wear them below their nose, making me insane. I do a sprint through the store at record pace and do self checkout and spray 70% alcohol on EVERYTHING it's just exhausting isn't it? Trying to get the vaccine down here is so frustrating, i blame the Orange Man for that with no plan at the very beginning and our governor is lock-step behind him. OMG it's unbelievable. Hope this helps you!
Wow!!! Sewing scientist! You rock! My inner nerd was thrilled during your entire presentation. Thank you for your due diligence. Love!!!
Me too!
Same here.
PLEASE add a warning about these fabrics. WASH before construction. These fabrics are imported from China and other countries. They are loaded with pesticides and other chemicals. Often they do not come off the loom straight, so they go through a stretching process with added chemicals. When washed, they revert back to their wonky position. WASH ALL FABRIC BEFORE SEWING. I owned a fabric store for many years. I know fabric!
Fabrics from China too! We better get back to MIA asap!
I always wash the fabric before I make my masks.🙂
Thank you for your valuable advice too.
karen l Smith this is such a HUGE issue! I'm concerned about all these kids in masks in school all day! I'm concerned for all of us!!
Where can I go to learn more about what you wrote here? And how I can make sure my family isn't breathing this stuff?! Thank you.
@@BlessedBaubles, Please try to homeschool your children if you can. Like others have said most come from China and the fabrics too. I knew a German lady years ago if she bought something second hand she would boil it to kill the germs. I'm here to find out what fabric is best and how to make my own.
I purchased some stretchy chiffon at my local Joann's store this evening. I asked several employees where the stretch chiffon would be located in the store and they showed me the aisle with the thin chiffon, obviously not what I was looking for. They weren't familiar with a stretch chiffon. I just looked around the fabric section, looking for stretchy fabrics and to my surprise I found three stretchy chiffons with the 90% poly 10% spandex composition. One was a nice golden yellow and the other two were pretty floral prints. Considering I live in Pittsburgh (Steelers/Pirates/Penguins), a black and gold mask would be great guys. I purchased black knit fabric to use for my ties for the yellow chiffon and white knit to go with the floral chiffons. So, the point of this post is to tell you that if you cannot find the fabric at Joann's at first, just look around at the stretchy fabrics and look at the composition on the end of the bolts. I could only find three, but that was all I needed, and to my surprise, they were half off too. Now to get sewing!
I have made these. Sister lives in AZ desert. They are very, very breathable. Thank you!! I got the exact percentage you found with a pretty floral design. Love it!!
When I first saw this video a month ago, I thought "Are you sure?" But I read the documentation, compared the fabrics, and saw for myself. I've been making the two layer Olson with this fabric and find it much lighter to wear and much easier to breathe through. Thank you for all the time and effort it must have taken to make this video.
Greetings and thank you from Australia. I have worked in Pathology my entire working life and the detailed information provided appeals to my scientific heart.
Just fyi, I was able to order all the fabric online from Joannes- their website is very easy to use, and my store does curbside pickup- what they didn't have in stock they shipped to me. I am using the same fabric for all parts of construction- I cut the strips 1.5" (instead of 1") to make it easier to work with... I slide the nose piece in from the side (rather than cutting a slit). Before I slide it in I put in a short seam just through the channel I've made for the nose piece at 2.25" from the center seam to stop the wire from going too far, after the wire is in, I sew another stop 2.25" from the center in the other side. I use a reinforced stich on my machine to sew this. Hope this helps someone! Thanks soooo much for these great videos!
This is so informative and from reliable sources. My local discount fabric store owner, in March, was selling, with advice from local hospitals- cotton+ flannel +++ interfacing for a 3 layer mask. She's a hero. All my masks are sewn with these and with a pocket to add an additional filter. I bought the spun polymer used to make N95's to use as the additional filter. So glad to know that the masks I've seen for my family, friends and community are effective.
Thank you for making such a detailed and informative video! As a scientist I am glad to find a video that is actually well resourced and based on facts. It must have taken a long time to make this video. So thanks again for the work.
So informative! I learned a lot.
Amen
Hello! Thank you for the info, tips & all! I too, started w/the Olsen mask pattern. After nine modifications I settled on a design, very safe, comfortable & adjustable. Drawstring ties, full-size double layer, third layer is mouth piece/filter pocket & no seam down the center. I feel the seam would leave holes for germs to enter & exit! Thank u for letting me share!! Be safe & well!!
God Bless you Gail I work in a fabric store and now I have facts to counsel my worried customers
Please feel free to share my videos with your customers.....it would be greatly appreciated 🥰
I also wanted to say thank you so much for this Gail. I am a retired paramedic currently working for a freight railroad. We are essential employees, and cannot observe social distancing and work in places with high rates of homeless & hazardous areas. I am responsible for my own equipment (long story) and am SO grateful for this information. With my experience in EMS and quilting/sewing (grin) this is a godsend for me, to keep me and my family safe. Really, really appreciate the time and effort you took to put this together.
I appreciate your intellect, research and commitment to making the best mask for yourself and those that you love. Thank you for including the research! You are the best!!
I agree 100%. So very impressed with this video. Learnt a lot.
You do understand the she didn't do the research, right? She's just walking you through the results.
@@amandala444 Yes Amanda. What exactly is your point?
@@amandala444 Amanda, it takes a LOT of time, persistence, knowledge, and research to find scientific research results, and to then go out to many stores, purchase multiple fabrics, make the various masks from the purchased materials, then do the video with all the associated tasks. Ms Kollmar has done us a great service for which many of us are thankful because she is sharing FOR FREE the results of what she has learned. I say, Brava, Gail Kollmar, well done!
@@amandala444 I think most of us can discern that from watching the video - her presentation was very clear and concise.
I started making masks in March when we couldnt get any but it occurred to me that the filtration would vary. It was April before I found much research on fabric filtration alone and in combination and vis-a-vis covid particle size. I came across the same charts as well as similar from the American Chemist Society. Was hoping I interpreted them correctly... and finding your video has shown me I did. Will wear the masks we made (hybrids) as well as one of 4 layers of silk, but sure wish I could get my mom to understand the fit of the mask is so important. Now if only we can get more people to wear them and protect one another. Great presentation.
This video is a public service, thank you for all of the effort this clearly took you to make.
With so much rubbish on the internet, it is great to see a well researched and presented guide. Thanks - liked and subscribed.
Wow! Thanks for all of your research and for explaining the findings so well. For the last week, I have been overwhelmed by the huge number of available mask patterns and fabric suggestions. I am new to sewing and I purchased quilting cotton because I was under the impression that it was the best for mask making. Now I have a much better understanding of the options for protecting myself as well as others. Who knew that the labels on fabric bolts were so important 😳? I’m learning something new every day with regard to sewing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your detailed information. I am a receptionist at a family practice. The hospital that owns our clinic only provides n95, surgical masks and face shield for the clinical staff and not allowed for the clerical staff. They did finally “approve” for clerical to wear a home-made mask ( we provide ourselves) let me tell you the amount of concern our employers feel for the front office people that come into contact with every patient that enters...zero. Anyway, I have been wearing the quilters cotton 2 layers that I have sewn myself ( have not sewn in 20 years 😬) but pulled my sewing machine out of the basement dusted her off and went to town for me, my family and my coworkers. FYI the hospital received hundreds of home-made masks due to the thoughtfulness of locals, unfortunately none of them made their way to the clinics. Based on your video I’m headed out to try and find some stretch chiffon. I like the idea of the 1 layer being more comfortable since we wear our masks for 8 hours but I’m concerned with it only being 67%. I’m thinking this will be good when I’m out in public but I’m concerned it’s not enough for my work so I’m going to be making a chiffon 1 layer, a 2 layer and the 2 layer with 600 thread count just to compare the breathe ability for lengthy wearability. I will post my findings after I get them made and tried out. God bless you all and stay safe and healthy!
So unfortunate. Our hospital does the same - people in our department can use a poorly fitting paper mask (the flat kind) or a home made cloth mask while other staff are outfitted in full PPE. I am so grateful for a mask that provides more protection.
Hi, have you made and tired the masks yet?
Let's hear the results
I absolutely love you for this!! Thank you from a research oriented nerd! I too have read that published study and I'm so glad that you were able to break down the data on the tables in such an easy and informative way. God Bless you!
I am SO IMPRESSED with your level of research! It is more in depth than ANY other videos I've seen to date. Thank you so much!
I'm blown away by this video and can't wait to have something more comfortable and performant than what I've been using. Luckily my next recommended video is on your Breathe Easy Mask pattern. Thank you for this wonderful research!
I had the same question about using the 2 layers rather than just one layer (about breathability) and, I just tried the 2 layers and it's just fine! I have asthma and can wear the double chiffon for a long time with no probem. Making these for all my family now.
This is one of the most well-delivered, informative and important videos ive watched on YT. Many, many, many thanks.
Ill be making a 600+ cotton and flannel olsen now. Its winter here.
This is such a wonderfully researched video! I'm a nurse and had not heard of the potential effectiveness of these poly blends combined with cotton. Thank you for not only citing the studies but going through them in your video. If more people on social media did thorough research like this there would be a lot more resistance to mask wearing. Please keep up the videos! I'm excited to see more :)
Gail you are a true blessing to humanity. Thank you so much for your painstaking research and making things easier for new sewers like me to help family & friends. I have been making these Olson masks from your 1st video but now I will use the fabric you recommend
A BIG THANK YOU, THIS VIDEO SHOULD GO VIRAL FOR THE SAFETY OF PUBLIC.
The pressure differential is crazy. I’m an ICU “Coronaville” nurse. I have the “joy” of wearing an N-95 for most of my 12+ hr shifts. After an hour or so most of us have to take the mask off for a few minutes, replacing it with a regular surgical mask, outside of the isolation rooms. Why, because we need to breathe! The N-95’s are not easy to breathe through and most of us feel the CO2 levels get too high, making us feel dizzy, weak, and slow thinking. This table, however, places the N-95 into the easiest to breathe category. It also places the regular surgical mask on the difficult end. I don’t know how they made this measurement, but they sure didn’t use live people. I will be trying some of these fabrics, but question the validity of the pressure differential data.
Bless you for working so hard and caring for those who are ill!!
Wow.. what an uncomfortable feeling that must be.. I'm sorry to hear that,I have a hard time with mask when out for errands. Thank you for the hard and extremely important work you...
Xoxoxo
Do you think it might be the fit? the N95 masks fit much tighter to the face compared to surgical masks, so that might contribute to the difficult to breathe feeling. A typical surgical mask is more loose fitting in my opinion.
I completely understand about the N-95 mask! I wore one while out shopping one day. I started feeling stoned, as if I smoked marijuana, and by the time I got to the register, there were things in my cart I didn't remember putting in. When I got to my car, my shirt was drenched in sweat. Didn't realize it until I got to my car. I had a similar experience with one of those disposable surgical masks, except the area covered by the mask completely broke out from heat rash because the entire area was coated with sweat, with nowhere for the sweat to go or absorb.
Do you worry about the virus coming through these other materials?
Thank you so much!! My son is high risk. I’ve been using 2 layers of high count quilters cotton and a filter made of blue mechanics paper towel, which is hand washable (a few times). I didn’t know how much longer I could last in humid 90 degree weather with a “winter blanket” on my face. I also worry about the gaps.
I’ve already ordered that fabric you suggested. I can’t wait to try making this.
PLEASE realize that the mask is not to protect him. it is on other people to prevent their droplets from reaching your son. A direct benefit of wearing a mask is to show others you are serious about physical distancing.
K Gunn thank you very much for the comment. This virus is so new that info is constantly evolving.
Happily, recent studies are proving that it does, in fact, protect the wearer. Having been in healthcare for decades, and with an adult son who is cared for by numerous specialists, I was already aware of the protection it gives him. Not complete protection but, like the seatbelt in my car, it’s going to lessen the risk.
While in hospital with him, I often take him for walks and see children w/ cancer, traveling off floor in their little wagons, wearing masks. They are worn to protect them from us, not us from their cancer.
We do it all - wear clean masks, wash hands often, go for occasional hikes in the woods w/ mask in hand (just in case we aren’t alone), avoid crowds, etc. BTW, hikers are often friendly people. I smile to myself as I notice all of us trying to stand upwind from each other, to keep away from anything in their air. He misses his friends because special olympics is another victim of Covid19, so we “train” to keep active.
Hmm, we are blessed to live in Pennsylvania Amish country. . . aside from washing hands and wearing masks, it’s our life already.
Thank you very much for the detailed and documented scientific research behind this. I've been making the two-layer Olson style mask in high-quality quilters cotton and have found that as it gets warmer out the comfort is dropping rapidly. I'm going to look into getting some of the stretch chiffon and using your updated mask design. Thank you again!
I am going to be open minded about the chiffon, but it surprises me that a synthetic fabric would be cooler than cotton. When I was "always hot" during that time of life, I found I could not wear synthetic fabrics of any type as they were warm. I will have to look into this for masks.
Awesome video Gail. Very thorough & informative. Now comes the hard part...learning to sew. Glad you thought of that as well & have a created a sewing video to help. You're an angel.
This is a great resource! Thank you! I'd love to see a video of you making the 5th mask!!
Thank you so much for the detailed description of the fabric for mask. I have made many masks for myself as I am a nurse working in a home care setting. The nose wire type was the first that I attempted. The wires always seemed to poke out of the fabriac no matter what type of wire I used. Nor did the pipe cleaners work. A mask that pokes the bridge of your nose is not desired by anyone. And to launder the wire would result in rusting in no time. I used a mask pattern with a pocket for a filter, bought the recommended furnace filters for use in the mask. These were much to thick to actually wear for any amount of time. Most of the masks do not feel comfortable around the ears, which once again will result in not wanting to wear it. The most current fabric type that I read that was suggested to use by hospital doctors is a spandex blend, the type used for "active wear". I will try this fabric with elastic that goes around your neck and the top of the ears. Thanks again for all of your research.
Just a suggestion that most mask styles and patterns are easily able to be modified so that the nose bridge wire is removable for the wash. Tiny bit of time for the extra sewing and removing it and putting it back in each time, but it resolves the issue you mention above.
I use pipecleaners and use a zigzag stitch right over the top seam. These have been washed in a washing machine and hung to dry and then ironed over and over with no problem, neither rusting nor breaking nor poking through the fabric (quilters cotton and natural silk)
Thank you for the research and explanation. I have made the Olson mask and the 3D masks. I get a better fit with the 3D mask. Going to pick up the poly span fabric today to make more masks.
You, my lady, are brilliant. Thank you for being such a thorough and generous person for sharing this. I will do my best to remember to pass this video along on social media!
Gail, thank you for your research! The information about mask fit is extremely helpful.
One fabric they did not review, maybe because it is not commonly available except online, is LINEN. I happen to have some lightweight linen because I was making a medieval shift for cosplay. I used some as the face layer to an accordion-pleat style mask and found it to be the most comfortable and breathable fabric I've tried.
I can't quantify with numbers how well it works, but let me tell you my story. I have some trouble breathing normally, so I often feel I must remove my mask even in public to get extra oxygen sometimes. In the store today I tried that and found that I did NOT breathe any easier without a linen-lined mask than with one. However I DID find that I suddenly could smell cologne or something in the air, that previously my mask had filtered out. So if my mask is well-fitted, breathable and comfortable, and still filtering out even the smell of perfume, then it must be doing a very decent job even though it is lightweight.
I just thought the "perfume test" might be a valuable addition to some people's toolbox to judge the effectiveness of their own masks.
Marialla would you mind sharing the details regarding your linen fabric? What kind and where you bought it? I just want to make sure I get the right thing. Thanks!
@@JeffB8sFan Two excellent suppliers of linen are Dharma Trading: www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/100-bleached-linen-fabric.html?lnav=fabric.html
And Burnley and Trowbridge: www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/6176.aspx
You want to look for a fine weight linen 3-3.8 oz, for a sheer and breathable layer. At least, that's what I used.
@@Marialla. Other research has found linen to be much less effective than cotton - it might just be a question of thread count, but I doubt you can find even 150 TPI in linen.
It is not just the fine weave - the physical-chemical nature of cotton is what controls the droplets. Linen is a totally different plant and does not behave he sme way physically/chemically.
@@habibanola Yes, you can find 150 TPI linen. It's hard to find and very expensive. It usually used for ecclesiastical goods although you can occasionally find linen sheets in that range.
Thank you for including your sources; so often people cite research results without backing it up. Appreciate the clarification on these masks!
This is so informative, interesting and well-done! I have reservations about the polyester, though. Not surprising it helps trap molecules as it's a type of plastic. I wouldn't want to be breathing in that stuff. I'd opt for the cotton/flannel or cotton/silk instead. However, if poly's all you have, I suppose it's better to use that than cotton alone.
Hello, something I have been using is hair elastics. There are some long ones I have found as well as cutting ringlets from a new pair of unused pantyhose or knee high pantyhose. Just cut 2 inch wide pieces. Cut them in half, and give them a good little stretch. I tie the ends together and hide them within the inside of the fabric.
you did amazing with this video! Thank you! this was the MOST informative video ive seen so far!
I have been experimenting with the same study when it came out and go for 600 thread cotton sandwiched between 2 layers of the polyester/Spandex material.
Wow-Wee! THANK YOU! Awesome video & explaining the chart & complicated information so clearly. You are a wonderful teacher! Kudos! Stay safe.
I have been using old good linen napkins for the lining with used fabric on the outer side . Gives me the sense of ancestors gifting us from 100 years ago during this novel event. Thread count makes most sense, but natural fiber, too.
Those linen napkins could have been around for the original Spanish flu pandemic.....Ahhhh, history....got to love it!!
Doesn’t the stitching down the middle of the mask introduce holes and wouldn’t this affect filtration?
Good question, but I think not. In fact, it is my hypothesis that the stitching actually increases the fiber density of many fabrics when not under tension. After all, we are really adding thread to the void which ultimately adds to the weave of the fabric. When the fabric is stretched tightly perpendicular to the seam, then I would agree that holes in the fabric do open up.
I am wondering, too.
Great job of breaking down this study! I only wish the study had included using non-woven interfacing. I remember in the early days of this pandemic a study that showed it significantly increased the effectiveness of homemade masks so I have used it in all styles I have made - I'm sure it doesn't hurt but it does effect breath-ability some. The double chiffon looks like the way to go but as you pointed out fit is key. The other thing that caught my attention was where the holes were to imitate gaps - it seems they measured leakage on exhale - or what the wearer is putting out for others to breath in. I would love to know the reverse - even with some side gaps I would guess that most of an inhale would come through the cloth covering your mouth and nose, not from the edges near your ears and chin.
I don't want to put others at risk so proper fit is important to all of us - I was thinking more about kids going back to school - we will do the best we can but they're going to have gaps, so I say give you loved ones the best filtration on the inhale to protect them from others who have gaps.
Thank you so much for your time with putting this up for all of us!!!
Can't wait for the modified Olson pattern. I have made and donated over 100 cotton masks but with summer weather warming up many are looking for something lighter. The added filtration level will be a huge bonus.
I am anxious to get it to you and others who could use it (especially in the heat and humidity)! We are working hard...😁😷🥽🦺🧵
Gail Kollmar With the modified Olson mask, do you think using the light weight fabric with non-fusible interfacing would be light and effective?
This is a very useful video... especially for those of us who want as little filtration as possible... in order to breathe fresh air.... at times when we just can't get away with not wearing a mask at all... Thank you.
L-O-V-E this scientific video. How exciting about the chiffon!
You "hit the nail on the head" with this video!! Everything I've been searching for you've explained so well. Thank you for your organizational research based approach. God Bless:)
Thank you so much! My family is helping me make masks for friends and coworkers and the rest of the fam and all your videos are so helpful!!! I’ve even made toy masks for my daughter and some of my mom’s students. (She teaches first grade) I’m excited about this one because the weather is getting hotter and having a more comfortable safe mask will encourage more people to wear them I think. Thanks again.
Gail, this video is f**ing excellent. Thank you for the time you took to do the research and making a video showing the evidence.
thanks for the great video!!!,,,,,,,for those who dont like to sew (moi),,,,you can do the same by cutting out a square the size of a bandana, laying it on the diagonal, and fold the corners down, and up, across the diagonal, several times to create a wide band, and use the pointed ends to simply tie tightly in the back, eliminating all gaps, also covering up the ears as well, the ears also take in stuff,,,,,,,,,,,,,takes 1 minute to make, and you can fold in the upper edges to fit tightly under your eyes,,,,,,,very tight fit,,,,,,thanks for all the great info,,,,,,off to the fabric store!!!!
Thank you for your research and presentation! I am wondering why you have not mentioned a layer of non woven interfacing. That was the important layer talked about in the Spring when we were first making masks. The best possible fabric combo was 2 layers of cotton with one layer of non woven interfacing in between. Any research on that? Thank you so much.
I haven’t seen much data on the interfacing except that the WHO recommends Not coating a mask. I would put fusible interfacing in that category. Non fusible interfacing may make an interesting filter choice in a pocket mask, but again, I haven’t seen much data. The WHO does recommend polypropylene as a center layer, but I am not sure what types of polypropylene would be best and what types would be safe for breathing through. I wish I could help more.
When you say nonwoven interfacing, are you referring to polypropylene or some other material? I think the problem with sandwiching the woven interfacing for electrostatic purposes is that when washed, it loses its ability. But it can be re-charged with friction. So I'm thinking about making a polypropylene filter if that is feasible, for the mask interior.. If it touched the skin, it would have more power because skin (pos) and poly (neg) would create most static electricity. If that is indeed the goal? I'm no scientist :) just noodling this out
I am so grateful to you for doing all this research and then explaining it so while I didn't understand it all, I got the points you were making. If I had tried to read this myself, I'm sure my head would have exploded! Thank you so very much!
Thank you so much for this info. Are you planning on making a tutorial for the 3-layer mask with the excellent filtration?
Thank you Gail. The information you provide is invaluable. I am very happy with my single layer stretch chiffon mask.
I'm confused. I thought the study said the two layer cotton quilt with the interface was 96%. Can you tell me what the thread count and gsm of this cotton was? (vs. the quilt cotton with 80 thread count). Since quilt cotton is generally 60 to 68 thread count, what accounts for the outstanding performance of the quilt? Was it the construction, the three layers or some other factor? Because I'd like to duplicate that model at home! I'm also curious why you didn't make a mask that way to compare since the rating was so high for that version. Did you do that for comfort reasons?
Thank you for all your time effort and research. I have watched many videos about making masks, and to be honest have become very confused. I’m from Australia and wearing masks has never been an issue here, until the last week when we have seen a spike in cases ( only in the state of Victoria). The suggestion is that those in the “ lockdown areas “ should consider wearing masks. I’m not in this area but one can never be too careful. All of that being said I wanted to make sure to make an efficient mask and not waste money and time. So now I’m going to see if I can find your suggested materials and get sewing. Sorry for the long comment, thank you once again.
This is a GREAT contribution. You saw things in this study I missed when I read it, right after it came out.
REQUEST: can you post the Grams Per Square Meter of the stretch chiffon you like? It's NOT on the Joanns web site, even if it IS on the end of the bolt.
Well, I went Joanns today, and they had ONE Stretch Chiffon, and it was lighter and more sheer than what you've shown. And NONE of the apparel fabrics had the GSM or thread count on the end of the bolt.
Andrea Brown Went to Joanns today and what they have is called Silly Prints, 90% polyester/10% spandex. They didn't call it Chiffon.
I also purchased a silky print fabric with the same 90% 10% combination. I was even able to find a more masculine print the men in my live will wear. Bit of a feat for chiffon. Look for the silky print heading on the end of the bolt away joanns
I use cotton fabrics, including 800 thread count, iron on non woven interfacing (different weights) and always include a filter pocket, metal strip over the nose can either be the purpose made strips for masks or the metal strips used for office file documents, I encase those in a interfacing pocket so they don't move around or detach.
Omg. What is your background. I’m an engineer and am frustrated at the masks advertised with huge gaps. Finally someone put the research together. Thank you.
I was leaning toward stretch jersey with filti filer material because the stretch gave me the fit and I know the effectiveness of filti. Problem is filti has a limited lifetime. I am rethinking everything.
Filti also has what I (an engineer) consider to be to much resistance to breath. I'm not going to be using it. I've also lost my enthusiasm for shop towels, due to durability concerns.
I've used a lot of jersey in two layers, based on earlier research suggesting that it was a good choice. And users like them. The thickness of the jersey, and the fuzziness of the cotton fibers both help Mechanically filter out a broad range of particle sizes, but it does NOT have the electrostatic properties that make the Polyester/Spandex Stretch Chiffon effective at filtering out the Tee-Ninesy nano spit.
The problem with ANY stretch material is the more you stretch it, the bigger the "pores" get, which diminishes your mechanical filtering effectiveness. So you don't want to stretch it TOO much.
I found it very helpful to switch out the sewing machine needle to a new number "11" embroidery needle.
This is really interesting. I will be able to use this.
WoW! Best ever. Thank you for feeding my brain with relevant information that makes sense. Now to shop and get busy. Thank you again.
EXCELLENT❣️ Thank you SO MUCH.
Fantastic research, thanks! I was not able to find the same type of chiffon in Denmark but I found this very interesting material for those who cannot order from Jo-Ann's. It's called ALBStoffe, 100% made in Germany, feels like jersey, very compact and not see-through. It's 95% trevira-bioactive and 5% elastan (a.k.a. spandex), advertised as Permanent Antimikrobiell and though they have a disclaimer that its purpose is not to stop virus, they even have a panel with masks printed and ready to cut. I counted around 80 tpi, it's machine hot washable and can go in the dryer. I look forward to using your instructions on this fabric!
Want to share this information, with our local sewers, do you know where I can get the pdf on the research you have done. This is wonderful. Thank you for taking your time doing this.
Gail thank you so much for showing us such thorough and detailed research - most importantly, for making it understandable! I really learned a lot and feel empowered with the knowledge. This has inspired me to make my own masks :) Take care~
Very good and informative video, thank you. Saying that I am confused in fabric order when making them. In vider @ 12:33 minutes you explain outer layer is good quality cotton and inner layer is chiffon. At 20:56 minutes when rating 5th masks quality you said 2 outer layers are chiffon and one inner layer is cotton (reversed orde). Would appreciate clarification.
Thanks Gail... your video appeared in my recommendations, which I’m very thankfully for! A truly excellent video 😀
My only concern with all masks is the actual Olsen pattern, because of the central seams increasing permeability with the holes.
Thank you again for your research!
great video Gail. Since the info that you shared in your how to video states that using different fabrics in a 2 layer mask is optimal, what do you think the protection would be with 600-800 thread count sheeting and 1 layer of stretch chiffon? Thanks
I would guess that your combo would be better than just one layer of stretch chiffon and better than one layer of 600TPI cotton, but not additive (NOT 67 + 79). Notice the difference between one and two layers of chiffon (67 - 83) and 1 and 2 layers of 600 TPI (79 - 82).
I know that you probably have been thanked 100 times but I wanted to say it again thank you for doing the research that you did it’s important to people who actually care like me so I personally wanted to say thank you because I’m gonna watch your video now and see what you have to say
WOW! That is a lot of information. Thank you for being so thorough in your research. I need to buy some chiffon!
Brilliant video. Clearly explained and all sources backed up. Two thumbs up!
Against early "recommendations" early on, I bought a several inexpensive pairs of 90/10 stretchy Poly/Spandex leggings in the biggest sizes I could find to cut & use for masks (when everything was closed & Joann's had a 3.5 hour line to get in). I'm FINALLY going to Joann's today, excited to compare. I bought the 90/10 leggings because they have nice, stretchy drape, a soft "sueded" or "sand-washed" feel, and are very opaque--more than other most other materials. I think these may have been a better intuitive purchase than I realized. They also hold a lot of static.
See my website for up close pics of the stretch chiffon fabric with a fiber content of 90/10. It is a weave (not knit) and is ever so slightly stretchy...really just has “give”. gailkollmar101.wordpress.com/olson-mask-support/. Have fun sewing!
@@gailkollmar8174 Is a knit bad or not as good as a weave? I bought a bunch of knit fabrics with the 90/10 content you recommended but they were not the stretch chiffon material you recommended. I only found your videos AFTER I went shopping. Wondering if I should make another trip to the store or if what I bought will be ok based on your research.
What about adding non woven interfacing to the fabric? What kind of difference will that make?
The researchers did not study interfacing in this study (so I can’t quantify a difference), but the WHO recommends that you do not coat your fabric. apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1279750/retrieve. Page 10.
Two layers of cotton and interfacing in the center is my choice.
@@gailkollmar8174 Non-woven interfacing qualifies as the middle non-woven hydrophobic layer. It isn't a coating necessarily, especially if it's a non-fusible interfacing.
@@gailkollmar8174 Please check out a channels, The Fabric Patch...she has the scientific research on non woven material and has a good understanding as she was formerly a PA (Physicians assistant), also I use a pattern altered from the design on Made Institute. No seams in breathing area and good fit. Remember not to use pins making the mask. A pin hole is a huge opening compared to a microscopic particle. Hope this helps.
@@Imonit135 Gail discusses pin holes in her next vid about a breathable mask option. Check it out.
Very well done, interesting research. But was surprised that different filter materials wasn't also addressed. Differing filtering materials will make a huge difference in the effectiveness of a well made and fitted mask. Filti brand filtering material (which I'm currently using in my masks) has a 95% filtration rate, eliminating my concern over the filtering quality of the material I am using. [It proved its effectiveness when it filtered all smoke smell from the CA fires here in OR, and 2 places in WA.)
I’m sure this is mentioned in comments somewhere already, but likely very important not to use fabric softener on chiffon masks to preserve static charge?
I do not believe I have seen this comment before. Interesting...
I wouldn't want to use the fabric softener anyway because of the fragrance and other toxic chemicals that are in the formulas.
Fascinating, and really useful info. Thank you for bringing this article to my attention.
Could you please tell me if 94% or 96% polyester and rest spandex would be effective also. It is all I can find here in Edmonton Canada.
@UC2Ok5KvJJyc9n3WQJ6fzlYA Is lycra and elastane another word for spandex. I see a lot of polyester combinations with them.
As cold weather approaches and this thing isn't going anywhere, I'd like to see fine quality wool flannel--like business suit material--tested. 1) HOLDS ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE. 2) DOES NOT ABSORB WATER. It would be miserable material to wear in summer, but merino & cashmere would probably be lovely to wear in winter.
Wal-Mart does not sell "standard quilters cotton." As a quilter, it's irritating to see their fabrics called that. Quilt shop quality quilters cotton thread counts are higher than that. Like most other products, Wal-Mart's "quilters cotton" is a substandard product. Joanne's is not much better. When shopping for "quilters cotton," this is why it's important to go to an actual quilt shop, in person or online, and not a big box store.
I have found excellent quality batik fabric at Joann's for masks.
So true! The difference is tragic. Meanwhile real quilting shops are being put out of business. It is the same with quality yarn.
@@leo95630 speaking of batiks, they are so tightly woven and of course come in awesome color arrays. Does anyone think there is an issue with the dyes used? I know when I wear my batik masks (fabric washed and machine dried upon purchase, and then mask washed and dried again after assembly), I seem to smell a certain something. I do not detect this smell while wearing the other good quality/TPI "quilters'" cotton masks I've made.
For those having trouble accessing this top-pick Joann Fabric from the video, I have posted some up close pics and descriptions on my
blog page (gailkollmar101.wordpress.com/olson-mask-support/). I hope this helps you find a suitable fabric that is both safe and light. ~Gail
Hi Gail! Did you record sewing the 2 layer chiffon and 1 cotton 600 thread mask? If not, would you make this video? Thank you
Yes please, I am also looking out for the 2 layer chiffon and 1 cotton 600 thread mask video. Have I missed it along the way? Thank you for your very informative video.
The cotton has to go on the outside and the chiffon on the inside of the mask for it to work properly. The cotton stops the large droplets (mechanical filtration) and the chiffon stops the small particles by electrostatic attraction (electrostatic filtration). The illustration in the paper shows the cotton goes outside so the air goes through the cotton first before it goes through the chiffon. Great explanation, though!
I agree that there is a point of confusion there. The WHO recommends the cotton on the inside and the hydrophobic fabric on the outside.
@@gailkollmar8174 so... I may have missed part of this... Do they need to be two layers, one cotton and 1 stretch chiffon?
@@sandyray6710 the research for the hybrid fabric was 1 layer of 600 tpi on the inside and 2 layers of stretch chiffon on the outside. The WHO recommends cotton on the inside, a poly blend on the outside and a polypropylene or cotton blend in between.
Thank you!
@@gailkollmar8174 Here's the relevant section from the WHO's Advice on the Use of Masks in the Context of COVID-19 Interim guidance: "Combination of material used: The ideal combination of material for non-medical masks should include three layers as follows: 1) an innermost layer of a hydrophilic material (e.g. cotton or cotton blends); 2), an outermost layer made of hydrophobic material (e.g., polypropylene, polyester, or their blends) which may limit external contamination from penetration through to the wearer’s nose and mouth; 3) a middle hydrophobic layer of synthetic non-woven material such as polyproplylene [they are referring to spunbound polypropylene interfacing that can be bought from a fabric store or meltblown polypropylene such as found in surgical masks] or a cotton layer which may enhance filtration or retain droplets"
www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak
Thank you for the video, what's your thoughts on 2 layers, 100% cotton, and a polypropylene filter ?
The WHO mentions a polypropylene filter in their guidelines that I linked below the video, but I don't have any stats on polypropylene filter performance, nor do I know where to get that sort of thing at this point. Based on the research in this video two layers of cotton without the filters would be 38% effective if its 80 TPI cotton and 82% effective if its 600 TPI cotton. Fabric and fit are important. I'm sorry I can't help with polypropylene at this time.
@@gailkollmar8174 Try filti.com.
@@gailkollmar8174 polypropylene is not recommended to be washed in very hot water it is made for shopping bags like the fabric grocery shopping bags. And if you look on the manufacturer's website to make the product they all say to spot clean. all you have to do Gail is go onto the internet and search polypropylene and you'll find companies who make that fabric.
So it's quite irritating that the incompetent World Health organization would recommend a fabric that you can't disinfect. Either that or they just want you to use it and throw it away after one use
@@sken4385 yes I have found research over a month ago regarding the Filti fabric. I appreciate Gail's video but she's about a month-and-a-half behind. Smart filter also put out a research study on their website as well as the company that is used to rate the efficacy of the n95 masks. In the latter study they do mention the Filti fabric
@@gailkollmar8174 you'll prolly find this interesting . . . :-) makermask.org/
Well done m'lady! Really appreciate your attention to detail.
Gail, just curious as to why you picked using one layer of chiffon rather than two for your final choice. Was it because of the breathability factor? I am trying to find a mask that works best for my elderly parents to use that is both as safe as possible yet breathable. Any thoughts on this? Your videos are terrific. I appreciate all the information and time you took to share all you learned. Thank you!
I think she explained it in the video. What I understood is that it's the best combination of both protection and comfort. So if you were only to pick one that would it. Since it provides sufficient protection but it's not so uncomfortable you're gasping for air.
@@raquelg.4850 i find adding the 600 thread in between does not lessen the comfort to be honest, my issues has been finding the best mask and to be honest a design from a French website been the best fit etc but its a duck mask and the shape though very good as well as the seam positions, it does look odd
@@toshtosh9482 Can you share where you found the duck bill pattern? Did you find that it had less gapping? I also want to make 2 layer chiffon (90-10) and a layer of 600 TPI cotton masks. TY
@@pamelawisniewski7536 Pulled one out from my bout with leukemia: Base around face length is 10 inches the end that is away from face is 3.5 inches and the legs to form the trapezoid is 4 inches. I cut 2 pieces of each type of fabric. Stitched them all together with right sides together leaving a turning area. Turned right side out and added ties (before elastic was available) and wore them Daughter loves it. Have switched to Keiko Olson 3d mask. Both masks are wonderful and keep the fabric out of your mouth.
Really appreciate the science based knowledge. I’m using it in making masks with better fit using more effective fabrics. I have had better luck with the orange dot shaped mask in terms of getting a close fit on sides and chin. Goggles work to hold the top in place under my eyes.
Thanks for this video, this is probably the most comprehensive analysis I've seen regarding homemade masks. I did have a question though. For mask #5 you said it was double chiffon and one cotton layer, but with how I'm understanding the chart, it's recording 1 piece of chiffon and 1 piece of cotton (assuming the 600 TPI variant). Is there a reason you added the extra layer of chiffon, or am I misunderstanding the chart?
Very deep in the article, in a table heading, they explained that hybrid fabric was two layers of chiffon and one layer of 600 thread count cotton. I linked the original article and the updated article below the video both in the description and the update is in the comments from me because I had run out of description space. Happy reading!
Many thanks from the land down under. Your efforts and information are appreciated.
Wouldn't a mask with batting in it be difficult to breathe in?
My favorite mask so far has batting (the Orange Dot Quilts mask) - I wear it for hours at a time too.
@@SEHardy This is also my favorite pattern for fit!! although I have made some modifications now to ease the pressure on my nose.
Yes. My daughter has worn the one I made that way and has found it difficult to be active and wear it.
Thank you for this well organized and thorough presentation. I too, have followed the fabric discussion. I recently purchased what was advertised as Merv 13 fabric from Amazon. I would be interested to know what this fabric is really constructed of and how well it filters.
Any thoughts about using 93/7 vs 90/10 stretch chiffon from Joann fabric? They have so many fiber combinations that look and feel the same that it's difficult to know what to buy. After searching, I found 90/10, and made a few 2 layer masks. They are very comfortable and teenager approved.
I was wondering the same, I'm finding it hard to find 90/10, but have found 93/7 and one other that had more polyester.
@@heatherens4836 Here in UK i have been using 95% Polyester; 5% Lycra
@@toshtosh9482 im here in UK any idea where i can get it? I work as a carer and making mask for colleagues and residents. Hopefully you can help me, Thanks in advance
Love your videos. I am so excited about using the stretch chiffon. Went to JoAnn Fabrics and could only find 85% poly 15% spandex. Figured it was close enough. Did a trial with a single layer of the chiffon and a layer of tightly woven cotton and found it was a little hard to breathe in. Used bias tape to bind all the edges, which works great and can be used as ties, as well. Haven't tried a single layer of the stretch fabric but am wondering if you also have bound the edges to keep the fabric from stretching too much. Excited to see your new video showing different construction methods for this type of fabric. Filtration AND breathability would be a huge improvement.
Make sure you've got the WOVEN stretch chiffon. I saw a lot of KNIT poly/spandex at my Joann's, but NOT the material Gail is suggesting, although it looks like it's till available online. The KNIT stuff was not tested in the report Gail is referencing. It MIGHT be just as good, or it might have larger "pore" and thus be less effective.
Great video .. awesome explanation of all the new info ... Question ... :) Would you be willing to share the modified Olson pattern you made ? :) Thank you ... Your videos have helped me so much ... ( Last week I finished 70 masks that I donated to a Hospice ... all thanks to you and your previous videos on how to make the Olson mask faster ) ...
I am working on that mask video as we speak and hope to have that released within the week. I love that mask and want to share it ASAP. My 87 year old “Grand” wore that style to the cardiologist this week on a 90 degree humid day and it made it so much easier for her to breathe for which she was relieved and grateful. Great job on your sewing efforts....I am sure many people will be blessed!
Gail Kollmar That is awesome !!! I live in Las Vegas... so ... with this heat ... Can’t wait ..:) Thank you !
Gail Kollmar , have you got the new pattern or video out yet?
Putting the finishing touches on it...sorry this takes so loooong
Gail, thank you for posting this video and pattern, but your final recommendation for a single layer chiffon mask would rate only 67%, not 97% according to Table 1 in the research study. The 97% rating was for the mask labeled "hybrid 1." In the abstract at the beginning of the article, the researchers explained that a hybrid has multiple layers. Here is the exact quote: "Although the filtration efficiencies for various fabrics when a single layer was used ranged from 5 to 80% and 5 to 95% for particle sizes of 300 nm, respectively, the efficiencies improved when multiple layers were used and when using a specific combination of different fabrics. Filtration efficiencies of the hybrids (such as cotton-silk, cotton-chiffon, cotton-flannel) was >80% (for particles 90% (for particles >300 nm). We speculate that the enhanced performance of the hybrids is likely due to the combined effect of mechanical and electrostatic-based filtration."
We concur. I gave my top pick single layer chiffon mask a 67% rating. It is the triple layer (1 layer 600 TPI and 2 layers of chiffon) that gets 97%.